Joliet plans phased improvements on Theodore Street

The city is making planning progress on eventual improvements of a far West Side section of Theodore Street.

The city plans to build a fifth lane on Theodore between Route 59 and Drauden Road, install new traffic signals along Theodore at Drauden and at Wesmere Parkway, and improve intersections along the route.

The Joliet City Council on Tuesday will vote on a proposal to use $353,511 in Rebuild Illinois funds to hire V3 Companies for phase-two engineering for the project.

Construction costs are estimated at more than $3.5 million.

The city has not set a construction timetable for the project.

“It’s all funding dependent,” Public Works Director Greg Ruddy said. But he suggested 2024 as a possible construction year for the first phase of the project.

The project is being divided into multiple phases that will begin as funding is available. The improvements will start on the west end of the route and end at Route 59.

The first phase of construction will add the fifth lane from Drauden to Wesmere.

The fifth lane is to serve as a turn lane for traffic in both directions for the sake of safer turns off of Theodore onto side streets along the route.

Drauden and Wesmere will also get traffic signals for the first time. The intersection of Theodore and Drauden saw a new commercial development last year when Gas N Wash opened. There has also been interest in developing land adjacent to the Gas N Wash.

The project will continue next to River Road, where the intersection will be improved. There is a traffic signal at River Road now.

The final phase of the project will continue the fifth lane to near Route 59. Intersection improvements also are planned at Route 59.